Years ago, when I trained my riot squad and perimeter security squad, we found the plated 00 buffered buck did well on the silhouette B-27 targets we used and therein is the only 'humane' use for them. - in my most humble opinion, of course. I would never trust them to a big game animal. Point blank they'll work well on black bears - but only where the pattern is about 3" to 4" in diameter at most and the side of the head is the target. They fail generally to get into the vitals at 25 yards on bears and on a grizzly with boradside shots, even at somewhat closer ranges. Rangers in Jasper Park found that out and the buckshot hole in the hide for the entire charge was 2" in dimaeter. They wer very close as the bear came down the trail into the tent camp. No pellets of the charge made it past the ribs, into the lung cavity. One ranger, using 1-1/4 ounce Federal Fosters dropped the bear after it stood up in front of them and growled. His slug went through the sternum, lungs and shattered the spine. Personally, I'd have preferred a single, solid round ball. That one would have exited instead of flattening in the spine. A bit more range or slightly poorer hit and the soft Foster may not have had the 'best' effect. They most likely won't smash a shoulder or have any poop left once doing that - a 12 bore ball, that will exit an Indian Elephant's head on a broadside shot most certainly will.